Fit Kids of SW Oklahoma
Fort Sill Family and MWR has joined the Fit Kids of Southwest Oklahoma coalition to fight against Childhood Obesity. Childhood Obesity is the greatest health threat facing our children and arguably our state today. The fact that the CDC and other leading health experts predict that this generation of children will be the first that will not out live their parents due to the health implications of obesity is deplorable. This profound statement is the driving force behind the Southwest Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition. In fact, their motto follows that statement with “not OUR kids!”
Initiatives
Commanding General’s Challenge
The Commanding General’s Challenge-Western Miles is a running and walking program to promote the health and well-being of Fort Sill Soldiers, Families, retirees, and civilians, as well as the Lawton-Fort Sill community. The challenge is held bi-annually at Fort Sill and Miles can be logged continuously here. As of April 28,2010, 24,237 students, faculty and staff have walked or run 204,599 miles.
Fitness in the Parks
Fitness in the park is a non-profit initiative formed by the Comanche County Health Department, in coalition with Fit Kids of Southwest Oklahoma, Fort Sill Family & MWR on post in partnership with City of Lawton Parks and Recreation. It consists of volunteer instructors that will host a 1 hour workout session every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. between October 2 and November 20 and April and June. These sessions will rotate every Saturday and will consist of numerous fitness classes. They will be located on the East side of Elmer Thomas Park at the Lakeside Stage.
The purpose of these classes is to provide community members with a chance to become active and have fun while doing it without having to pay and scrounge around for a gym membership where classes of these types are usually offered. We know that the generations of today and tomorrow are becoming more and more less active. Obesity rates are among the highest they have ever been with Oklahoma as the 49th unhealthiest state in the Nation. It is our job to start doing something about it. This is one way we can begin promoting fitness and enjoying the outdoors and what the fresh air, sunshine and exercise can do for you.
Duty Rowe Fit Kids Fitness Trailway -
Faced with the dire consequences of the childhood obesity epidemic the Fit Kids of Southwest Oklahoma coalition created the Fit Kids Fitness Trailway as a way to get children and their families outdoors actively hiking and biking in one of the most beautiful areas of Oklahoma. Fully aware of the fact that the choices we make in how we live our lives affects the quality of life for every living thing on the face of planet earth. The Trailway’s interpretation centers focus on healthy choices for ourselves, our children, and all the inhabitants of the mixed grass prairies that the Refuge is dedicated to protect. Committed to “Protecting the Planet and Preserving the Lives of Our Children” the Trailway is a 34 mile bicycle trail on both sides of a two lane blacktop that runs through the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge connecting the communities of Lawton, Cache and Medicine Park to the Refuge, 14 miles of hiking trails, the gorgeous Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area on Fort Sill and a new Museum of Natural Sciences that is committed to wellness and conservation.
